The Secret Society of Happy People is happy to report the results to our poll What Makes Us Happiest About the Holidays:
- Seeing Friends & Family: 69.5%
- Festive Atmosphere: 58.2%
- Giving Presents: 55.4%
- Holiday Music, Movies & Theater: 43.8%
- Religious Meanings & Celebrations: 43.4%
- Holiday Food, Feasting & Parties: 43.4%
- Decorating: 36.9%
- People Seem Nicer: 33.3%
- Cooking: 31.3%
- Time Off Work: 30.5%
- Holiday Cards or Greetings: 28.5%
- Santa Clause: 20.1%
- Community Events – Parades & Festivals: 19.7%
- Volunteering: 17.3%
- Getting Presents: 14.9%
- When It’s Finally Over: 13.3%
- Shopping & Holiday Deals: 10.0%
- Traveling: 9.2%
We also had some great responses in the “Other” category, but the one that stuck out was “How still things are when the stores are closed Christmas Day.” And many of the other responses actually fit into one of the above categories.
Overall the results reflect the happiness we get from spending time with those we care about the most and sharing everything from gifts to food to decorations. It really proves that the holidays are about people not things — unless we’re giving them because that makes us happy.
These poll results are based on the participation of 249 not-so-secretly happy people. Thank you!
Written by Pamela Gail
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:
Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.
Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:
She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.
A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.
Just reading the list lifted my spirits. There are a lot of things to feel happy about; it’s easy to find them when you look with your heart. Reading about others’ happiness and its sources is one of the them!
Seeing the family and friends is also the number one for me that makes me happy on holidays. The list you made is very true.
Thanks,
Katherine